Rams may regret turning nose up at this small school offensive weapon

When it comes to the annual NFL draft, the Los Angeles Rams constantly face the risks that accompany the unknown, including the risk of regret. Rams fans are all too familiar with that scenario, as it still haunts them to this day over the team selecting Louisville WR Tutu Atwell with the 57th pick in Round 2 of the 2021 NFL Draft. The reason for regrets? A desperately needed elite rookie center out of Oklahoma, named Creed Humphrey, was still on the board. He was the fans' choice, and he proved to be a superb NFL offensive lineman for the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Rams just re-signed center Coleman Shelton, their fifth new center since Humphrey was drafted.

Will the Rams give reason to fans to regret passing on another fan favorite?

When the 2025 NFL Draft appeared on the radar, almost every Rams fan knew that the team would finally draft a tight end. And the team did not disappoint. The Rams are not the type of team to hem and haw over a difficult decision. The team works through a myriad of NFL mock draft scenarios to ensure that decision-makers are confronted with every major decision point.

So when the Rams stepped into the batter's box with the 26th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft and did not have an option to select either TE Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland, the team opted to take the Atlanta Falcons up on a ridiculously lucraft offer to trade back into Round 2 with the 46th overall pick, and pick up a Round 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The only tight end selected between 26 and 46 was LSU tight end Mason Taylor. He was selected by the New York Jets in Round 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft with the 42nd overall pick.

So, who was behind the curtain that the Rams passed up on, Johnny?

The Rams clearly had plenty of interest in tight ends, wide receivers, and quarterbacks before the 2025 NFL Draft. Per our pre-draft meeting tracker, the Rams had met with five tight ends, five wide receivers, and three quarterbacks. So, which tight ends did the Rams meet with? They met with PSU TE Tyler Warrren and Michigan TE Colston Loveland (who were both off the board before 26), LSU TE Mason Taylor (who was selected before the Rams picked at 46), Texas TE Gunner Helm, and Nebraska TE Thomas Fidone II.

Both Gunner Helm and Thomas Fidone II were on the board for the Rams through Day 2.

While we did not have evidence of the Rams meeting with either Bowling Green TE prospect Harold Fannin Jr. or eventually-selected Oregon TE Terrance Ferguson, there was a lot of buzz surrounding Harold Fannin Jr. Perhaps it was the elite pass-catching prowess of the small-school NFL hopeful? Perhaps it was the fact that Fannin Jr. seemed to explode onto the NFL radar, despite catching passes from relatively unknown quarterback Connor Bazelak.

Whatever the case, any collegiate tight end who can put up 1,555 receiving yards is going to get plenty of attention. Right now, Fannin Jr. is getting plenty of buzz and dollars to play in the NFL.

The rookie tight end class was like trying to choose an ice cream flavor at Baskin-Robbins. Many talented tight ends did not hear their names called out in 2025, but would have made ideal Day 2 draft selections in other draft years.

That's just how it goes sometimes.

But whether he knows it or not, the NFL career of Rams rookie tight end will be forever tied to that of Harold Fannin Jr., Gunner Helm, Thomas Finone II, and perhaps even Mason Taylor. They are the other tight ends that the Rams might have selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, but opted not to.

Rams fans have a clever knack for remembering those subtle facts. Don't take my word for it. Just ask WR Tutu Atwell.

As always, thanks for reading.

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